[2000-03-22-WCW-Thunder] Hulk Hogan vs Dustin Rhodes

[Loss]

Pretty sure this is the only time this match has ever happened. Good match, way better than anything Dustin did with Terry Funk and suggests that if these two crossed paths at the right times when both of them were on their game, Dustin could have been one of Hogan's best opponents. Dustin cutting off Hogan's comeback was genuinely awesome with the lariat and cowbell, and I liked the restart also. Great pop for the finish. I think Nick Patrick deciding not to DQ Dustin and restart the match proves the Hogan-Patrick conspiracy theorists correct. Sid chokeslams Jimmy Hart through a table to close things out, and it's like Hogan learned nothing from what made people sick of him before he turned in the first place. ***

[soup23]

If you ever want to see a 1987 Hulk Hogan main event house show match in 2000, this is it. Dustin has been trash so far but gives his most spirited performance by being compelling on top and playing to Hogan's strengths. Maybe it is the old Hulkster mark in me but in ring I still don't think he has been mostly atrocious in 2000. I get kind of a lesser 1991 vibe in that regard where people were just sick of him so his hard work didn't get the due it may have deserved. A rare treat watching Hogan having a good match on Thunder of all things and a novel matchup as well. ***

[GSR]

Dustin jumps on Hogan as soon as he slides into the ring and puts the boots to him. He’s methodical in his movements at this point, not rushing in at all. Hogan with an eye rake and he fires back with some punches of his own. Dustin rolls out the ring but Hogan is on him. He rams his head into the guard rail, a thrust to the throat before throwing him back inside. Rhodes backs off, although Bobby Heenan is convinced he’s playing possum “as he’s not a coward”. A series of rights in the corner drops him, whip to the opposite side and a lariat. Irish whip, Hogan goes for a back drop but he’s telegraphed it and Dustin with a boot to the chest. They’re back on the arena floor and this time its Dustin who’s in the ascendancy. He throws Hogan into the broadcast table and unloads with punches on the floor to him. Rhodes with a rear chin lock in the ring, and you can clearly see they’re slowing things and bringing the crowd down. A couple of knees to the head for a two before returning to that rear chin lock. The arm drops twice but not the third time as Hogan wags that finger. A series of elbows to the mid-section break the hold, but Dustin cuts off the comeback with a clothesline for two. An elbow to the head, a right, another right and they’re having no effect as Hogan ‘Hulks up’. Hogan with the rights now, Irish whip and Dustin ducks under the big boot and nails Hogan with a clothesline (great spot!). Despite being firmly still in this match, Rhodes picks up his bullrope fom the corner, clobbers Hogan with the cowbell and decks Nick Patrick for the DQ. He leaves Hogan laying and makes his way back to the dressing room when Patrick gets on the mic and tells him that he’s changed his mind and he isn’t going to disqualify him. He says that he’s the one who called Hulk Hogan out and he’s got a ten count to get back in the ring and face him, otherwise he’ll be suspended and fined $10,000. The crowd are counting along with the referee and with no other choice, Rhodes gets back in there. A couple of punches, Hogan reverses an Irish whip, big boot, leg drop and a matter of seconds after it restarted, it’s all over.

 

Good match and I liked the false finish a lot (even if the ending did come way too soon after the restart). After seeing a whole bunch of matches with cheap unsatisfying finishes due to interference and disqualifications, I thought we had another here until the call by Nick Patrick. They really need to adopt this practice more often. A couple of very nice spots in this such as Dustin cutting off Hogan’s comeback and ducking out the way of the big boot. Considering I never knew these too ever wrestled each other I enjoyed this.